Players line up for the National Anthem on the first day of the 1993 season at Candlestick Park.

Players line up for the National Anthem on the first day of the 1993 season at Candlestick Park.

Photo: JOHN O'HARA

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Barry Bonds and Willie Mays are introduced on opening day in San Francisco on April 3, 2007.

Barry Bonds and Willie Mays are introduced on opening day in San Francisco on April 3, 2007.

Photo: Eric Risberg, AP

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San Francisco Giants Manager Felipe Alou (left) and his brothers Jesus (center) and Matty (right) throw the first pitch on opening day at Pac Bell Park on April 7, 2003.

San Francisco Giants Manager Felipe Alou (left) and his brothers Jesus (center) and Matty (right) throw the first pitch on opening day at Pac Bell Park on April 7, 2003.

Photo: ERIC RISBERG, AP

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Luis Garcia and Efrain Quintero (right) clean the glaze off the donor bricks at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park in preparation for opening day 2011.

Luis Garcia and Efrain Quintero (right) clean the glaze off the donor bricks at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park in preparation for opening day 2011.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Janet Clark, 50, of Paradise greets the San Francisco Giants with an opening day sign on April 03, 2007.

Janet Clark, 50, of Paradise greets the San Francisco Giants with an opening day sign on April 03, 2007.

Photo: Chris Stewart, SFC

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Fans attempt to retrieve the first home run ball hit into McCovey Cove on opening day, April 11, 2000.

Fans attempt to retrieve the first home run ball hit into McCovey Cove on opening day, April 11, 2000.

Photo: BEN MARGOT, AP

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Val Diamond, star of Beach Blanket Babylon, walks out to sing for opening day ceremonies at Pac Bell Park.

Val Diamond, star of Beach Blanket Babylon, walks out to sing for opening day ceremonies at Pac Bell Park.

Photo: DEANNE FITZMAURICE, SFC

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Eunice Bull of San Francisco watches the Giants play the San Diego Padres on opening day at Pac Bell Park, April 7, 2003.

Eunice Bull of San Francisco watches the Giants play the San Diego Padres on opening day at Pac Bell Park, April 7, 2003.

Photo: KAT WADE, SFC

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Brett Johnson and his son Cooper, 3 months, of Brentwood, attend opening day at SBC Park, April 5, 2005.

Brett Johnson and his son Cooper, 3 months, of Brentwood, attend opening day at SBC Park, April 5, 2005.

Photo: Mike Kepka, SFC

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Brian Wilson runs the championship flag through the bleachers before the start of the Giants' 2011 opening day game at AT&T Park against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Brian Wilson runs the championship flag through the bleachers before the start of the Giants' 2011 opening day game at AT&T Park against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Giants pitcher Matt Cain walks Miles Scott, Batkid, to the pitcher's mound during opening day ceremonies at AT&T Park on April 8, 2014.

Giants pitcher Matt Cain walks Miles Scott, Batkid, to the pitcher's mound during opening day ceremonies at AT&T Park on April 8, 2014.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Giants fan Jeremy Lassen waits to get into the front gates of AT&T Park on opening day, April 13, 2015.

Giants fan Jeremy Lassen waits to get into the front gates of AT&T Park on opening day, April 13, 2015.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Deb Sheppard, of Petaluma, prepares to head into AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants’ opening day game on April 13, 2015.

Deb Sheppard, of Petaluma, prepares to head into AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants’ opening day game on April 13, 2015.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Usher Mary Maglio, 92, helps a fan find his seat on opening day at AT&T Park on April 8, 2014.

Usher Mary Maglio, 92, helps a fan find his seat on opening day at AT&T Park on April 8, 2014.

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The Chronicle

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Danielle Bachler and Jessica Bonilla take a selfie on opening day at AT&T Park, April 13, 2015.

Danielle Bachler and Jessica Bonilla take a selfie on opening day at AT&T Park, April 13, 2015.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Ariana Herrera, 10, and her cousin Raymond Herrera, 4, watch the festivities during opening day at Pac Bell Park on April 5, 2002.

Ariana Herrera, 10, and her cousin Raymond Herrera, 4, watch the festivities during opening day at Pac Bell Park on April 5, 2002.

Photo: CHRIS STEWART, SFC

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Giants mascot Lou Seal keeps an eye on former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda on opening day against L.A. at SBC Park on April 5, 2005.

Giants mascot Lou Seal keeps an eye on former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda on opening day against L.A. at SBC Park on April 5, 2005.

Photo: John Storey, SFC

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Seth Niesen, of Mill Valley, catches a foul ball during warmups before the first game of the Giants’ 2001 season.

Seth Niesen, of Mill Valley, catches a foul ball during warmups before the first game of the Giants’ 2001 season.

Photo: MICHAEL MACOR, SFC

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Francisco Avalos and Lerena Bustillo cheer as the Giants play the Dodgers on opening day at SBC Park, April 5, 2005.

Francisco Avalos and Lerena Bustillo cheer as the Giants play the Dodgers on opening day at SBC Park, April 5, 2005.

Photo: Mike Kepka, SFC

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford enters the field between both 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies during opening ceremonies on April 5, 2013.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford enters the field between both 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies during opening ceremonies on April 5, 2013.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

58 years of windy and wild Giants home openers

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The Giants are home again, unofficially marking the start of San Francisco springtime.

This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in town, and tickets have long been sold out. The home opener always draws a huge crowd, whether at AT&T Park or, nearly two decades ago, Candlestick. The season isn’t even a week old, and optimism is still flowing and fans are chattering about the magic of even years.

Fifty-eight years ago, on April 15, 1958, the Giants started their San Francisco run with an 8-0 opening day win against the Dodgers at Seals Stadium. They would also win their first opening day at Candlestick, beating the Cardinals 3-1 on April 12 1960. The inaugural game at AT&T — then Pac Bell Park — didn’t go as well, with the Dodgers beating the Giants 6-5 behind shortstop Kevin Elster’s three home runs. Los Angeles would sweep that series.

Giants' Archive

Since then, the Giants have been a good bet on opening day. They’re 12-4 overall in openers at AT&T Park.

Bill Van Niekerken is the library director of The San Francisco Chronicle, where he has worked since 1985. In his weekly column, From the Archive, he explores the depths of The Chronicle’s vast photography archive in search of interesting historical tales related to the city by the bay.